Arnold in doubt for Bledisloe II with Coleman ready for return

Wallabies second-rower Rory Arnold is in doubt for the weekend’s clash against New Zealand due to a hand injury that he picked up in the recent win in Perth, leaving Adam Coleman primed for a return to the starting side.

Arnold did not train with the Wallabies in Melbourne on Monday or Tuesday and it is understood he is highly unlikely to be named on Thursday in Michael Cheika’s side to face the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.

Rory Arnold is being tipped to miss the second Bledisloe Test at Eden Park because of a hand injury.Credit:AAP

The 208-centimetre towering forward has been excellent this year at both domestic and international level and proving to be an integral figure of the Wallabies tight-five with his high work-rate and skills at the lineout. Arnold threw the last pass for a Lukhan Salakaia-Loto try in Perth.

Australia’s three-man selection panel of Cheika, Scott Johnson and Michael O’Connor have made it very clear they will only pick players if they are 100 per cent fit.

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Risking Arnold for a Bledisloe decider in Auckland might be a gamble Australian supporters would encourage but the Wallabies need him fit and firing for the World Cup, which begins later next month in Japan.

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In the likely scenario Arnold is ruled out, Coleman is the first cab off the rank to join Izack Rodda in the second row.

Coleman’s last start for the Wallabies came against England at Twickenham last November. He came off the bench in the 56th minute on Saturday during Australia’s record-breaking 47-26 win over New Zealand and made eight tackles to go with three carries for eight metres.

An injury-depleted Super Rugby season has prevented Coleman getting on the park as often as he would like and there is only two Tests remaining before Australia’s World Cup campaign begins.

Coleman has been a mainstay of the Wallabies pack over the past three seasons and spoke last week about how desperate he was to replicate the form that made him a regular starter.

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"Seeing the boys perform last week [against Argentina in Brisbane] really gave me that itch to get back in the squad and fight for a gold jersey again," Coleman said.

The All Blacks will be without Brodie Retallick once again; a player many believe is the best second-rower in the world.

However, according to former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns, Arnold has a case for that title, such is his impact over three Tests this year.

"People talk about Brodie Retallick being the best lock in the world [but] Rory Arnold must be up there," Kearns said during commentary on Fox Sports. "There’s some great locks around the world but jeez he’s come into his own."

The Wallabies haven’t beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986 and have a chance to regain the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 with victory in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday.